Global Patent Index - EP 1167331 A2

EP 1167331 A2 20020102 - Isomerization of a pentol

Title (en)

Isomerization of a pentol

Title (de)

Isomerisierung eines Pentols

Title (fr)

Isomérisation d'un pentol

Publication

EP 1167331 A2 20020102 (EN)

Application

EP 01114937 A 20010620

Priority

  • EP 01114937 A 20010620
  • EP 00113884 A 20000630

Abstract (en)

In a process for catalytically isomerizing Z-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yn-1-ol to E-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yn-1-ol in a mixture of both these stereoisomers there are employed as the isomerization catalyst bromine radicals and the isomerization is conducted in a two-phase system of an aqueous phase and the stereoisomeric mixture phase, the stereoisomeric mixture optionally being present in an essentially water-immiscible organic solvent, with intermixing of the reaction mixture and at temperatures from about -10 DEG C to about 100 DEG C. The source of the bromine radicals is generally an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal bromide, or ammonium bromide. In one embodiment of the process of the present invention a salt of a heavy metal is used as the catalyst for promoting the generation of bromine radicals from the source thereof, and in addition oxygen is generally used as an auxiliary agent for promoting the bromine radical generation. In a further embodiment there is used as such catalyst a strong peroxide-type oxidizing agent, e.g. an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal peroxomonosulphate, peroxoborate, peroxodisulphate or peroxodiphosphate, or the system hydrogen peroxide/alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulphate. The stereoisomer produced and isolated in the larger proportion, i.e. Z-pentol, is a useful intermediate, e.g. for the manufacture of vitamin A, and the stereoisomer produced and isolated in the smaller proportion, i.e. E-pentol, is also a useful intermediate, in this case e.g. for the manufacture of astaxanthin, zeaxanthin and further carotenoids.

IPC 1-7

C07C 29/56; C07C 33/042

IPC 8 full level

C07C 29/56 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

C07C 29/56 (2013.01); C07B 2200/09 (2013.01)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 1167331 A2 20020102; EP 1167331 A3 20030507; EP 1167331 B1 20060823

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 01114937 A 20010620